Catholic Church in Bolivia
The Latest
Bolivian Bishops’ Conference criticizes 5-hour interrogation of fellow bishop in abuse case
The Bolivian Bishops’ Conference expressed its solidarity and closeness to the bishop of San Ignacio de Velasco, Robert Flock, saying... Read more
Church in Bolivia criticizes excesses of raids on Jesuits in sexual abuse cases
The Bolivian bishops questioned the procedures carried out “under the rationale ... to collect evidence” in cases of alleged sexual... Read more
Jesuit provincial in Bolivia says he would not have entered order if he knew about abuse
Father Bernardo Mercado was interviewed recently by the special commission for the investigation of sexual abuse in ecclesial environments. Read more
Prosecutor in Bolivia asks for Church’s cooperation in clerical sexual abuse cases
The prosecutor for Chuquisaca asked the Archdiocese of Cochabamba for the names of the Jesuit provincials during the years 1999,... Read more
Bolivia’s attorney general accuses Jesuits of obstructing sex abuse investigation
The Bolivian attorney general’s office had received a copy of the diary from the Society of Jesus in Bolivia but... Read more
Sex abuse scandal in Bolivia: Who had the Jesuit priest’s diary, and when?
The personal diary of the Jesuit priest Alfonso “Pica” Pedrajas, who died in 2009, has been at the center of... Read more
Pope Francis expresses ‘shame and dismay’ over sexual abuse of minors in Bolivia
Pope Francis sent a letter Friday to the president of Bolivia expressing a firm promise to work with the government... Read more
Bolivian bishop on clerical sex abuse: We know asking forgiveness is not enough
“We have asked for forgiveness; we know that it’s not enough,” said Bishop Giovani Arana of El Alto, Bolivia. Read more
Bishops of Bolivia admit to having caused ‘deep pain’ to victims of sex abuse
In a May 24 statement, the Bolivian Bishops’ Conference reported that it had received the visit of Msgr. Jordi Bertomeu,... Read more
Jesuit provincial in Bolivia admits mistakes were made in dealing with sex abuse cases
The Jesuit provincial in Bolivia, Father Bernardo Mercado, admitted that his religious order made mistakes in handling cases of sexual... Read more
Vatican expert to go to Bolivia to examine the progress being made in sex abuse prevention
Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith previously investigated sexual abuse in the Church... Read more
Carmelite priest arrested, others accused in Bolivia on sex abuse charges
In the midst of allegations of sexual abuse against Jesuit priests in Bolivia, a Carmelite priest was arrested recently by... Read more
Bolivia Jesuits ask victims of two priests implicated in scandal to make formal complaint
The Jesuits asked the victims to make a formal complaint with the Society of Jesus and offered their assistance in... Read more
Bolivian bishops express pain over serial sexual abuse by Jesuit priest
An investigation by the newspaper El Pais revealed that Spanish Jesuit priest Alfonso Pedrajas Moreno sexually abused as many as... Read more
Bolivian bishop warns that ideologies in education harm society
Auxiliary Bishop Pedro Fuentes of La Paz, Bolivia, charged that ideologies are being imposed on Bolivian society, especially in education. Read more
Archbishop: Bolivia AG ‘wants to intimidate us’ by having bishops testify about coup d’etat
Bolivia’s attorney general’s office has requested that 10 bishops testify regarding their role in the alleged 2019 coup d’état. Read more
Church in Bolivia denounces ‘perverted curriculum’ with gender ideology for children
Father Pedro Flores pointed out that the content, which will be taught to children under 6, “is a perverted curriculum,... Read more
Bolivia: Priest condemns police pursuit of protesters into church where they sought sanctuary
The pastor of Holy Cross parish in the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia said that a... Read more
Bishops in Bolivia call on authorities to act against land seizures
Archbishop René Leigue Cesarí of Santa Cruz addressed authorities in his Dec. 11 homily, asking them to find a solution... Read more
Catholics take to the streets to pray for peace in Bolivia
The Catholic community prayed for peace while in the Santa Cruz region an indefinite strike continued over the date for... Read more
